The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-09
PURE ORIENTAL MAGIC.
A Queer Little Story Which, of Course,
Is Not Lie.
From Court Life an Egypt.

From Court Ltte an Egypt.
Stories of oriental magic have always their
own fascination. One is half inclined to
credit wise men of the East with possessing
a tradition of occult science long lost
among the restless changes of the West.
Such story now came under my notice
The Khedive sent for me one evening, and
said
81 have something curious to tell you.
There is Turk here in Cairo who wears a
ring which he pretends is gifted with magic
virtues. | have seen him and the ring-it is
plain loop of gold, set with a red stone,
which is said to have come from Mecca.
The Turk also showed me a plate of silver,
engraved with verses from the Koran. He
explained that he could not work the charm
himself, but required a child under 10 years
of age The child takes the ring the silver
plate is put on his head, and in a little while
the color of the stone changes to white. There
upon the child looks into the stone and
sees in it visions, and can answer any ques-
tionsn
The Khedfve went on to say that, being
quite incredulous, he asked for permission
to take the ring home and try it in private.
The owner consented. So the Khedive took
the ring to Ismaila palace where there hap
pened to be little girl years old belong
ing to the nurse-an ignorant child, unable
to read or write When the plate of silver
was laid on her head and the ring given
into her hand, almost Immediately she cried
out, 1.-THE stone has turned white" The
Khedive then asked questions about persons
whom the child had not seen, and received
correct descriptions. Another person pre-
sent said:
chow many children have Ip
1.-TWO sons and a daughter"
"That is right. What is the elder son
like"
"He wears a coat with a row of buttons
down the front, and striped trousers, and
has saber."
"What is the second son like|
"He has a coat with two rows of
buttons in front, little gold cushions on his
shoulders and an anchor embroidered on his
cuffs!'
The one was in the Turkish army, the
other in the Turkish navy, and both were
absolutely unknown to the child Collision
was impossible, for even wizard would
find it hard to penetrate into the ladies
APARTMENTS of the Khedives palace. More
over, the questions were too rapid and too
varied TO admit of shutiling or guessing an
swers The Khedive's conclusion was:
81 cannot believe it, and yet / cannot I'M
derstand it,
After some talk about English mesmerists
and clairvoyants, the Khedive related that
once, before he came TO the throne, he con
suited sooths9yer in company with the
minister OF war
"What is the news for EgyptW he asked:
The soothsayer demanded two minutes
DELAY. and then replied, "War with Abys-
sinia" -.
"Will the Egyptian army conquer
solve me six minutes" replied the
sorcerer.
AT the end of that time his face became
very troubled, his voice faltered, and his
whole body shook as he answered;
"The Egyptians will be defeated and their
army DESTROYED; only a small remnant shall
be left.n The prince laughed at the pro
phecy and forgot it,; but two months later
The same minister Of war showed him
dispatch from upper Egypt, stating that
the army had been utterly routed and four
battalions out Of six annihilated. After
showing the dispatch the minister re-
marked: -, -.
"Do you remember our, friend the sor-
cerer and the prince reep pi. NOV as
coincidence,